Line casting and composing machine



1936. M. POTTS LINE CASTING AND COMPOSING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 2,1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l||||||||||||||||||lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllIllllIIIII|llIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII a i 6A 26 IVNVENTOR LOU/5 M. P0776 ATTOR EY Dec. 1, 1936. M -rs2,062,332

LINE CASTING AND COMPOSING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 2, 1932 2 SheetSSheet 2 INVENTOYR zoo/s M. P0775 ATTOR EY Patented Dec. 1, 1936 UNlTEDSTATE LINE CASTING AND ooMPosING MACHINE Louis M. Potts, Evanston, 111.,assignor to Telctype Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation ofDelaware Original application January 2, 1932, Serial No.

584,387. Divided and this application May 10,. 1933, Serial No. 670,251

10 Claims.

This invention relates to linecasting and composing machines and moreparticularly to mechanism for effecting their automatic operation.

The present application is a division of copending application SerialNo. 584,387, filed January 2, 1932.

The object of the present invention is to provide, in a linecasting andcomposing machine controlled by a signal responsive device having anassembling block for receiving matrices during the process of linecomposing at either of two levels dependent upon the position of ashiftable rail, mechanism for temporarily arresting the activity of thecomposing mechanism while the rail shift function is being consummatedand for delaying the rail shift function a suflicient period of time topermit previously released matrices to settle and assume their assembledposition.

In the course of the following description, the linecasting andcomposing machine including all of the principal parts heretoforeprovided solely for manual control purposes shall be referred tohereinafter as the principal machine; the signal responsive unit wherebythe severalfunctions of the principal machine are automaticallycontrolled shall be referred to as the automatic control unit, and themechanism for shifting the shiftable rail of the assembling block underthe control of particular signals, shall be referred toas the rail shiftmechanism.

As set forth in the parent application, the automatic control unitcomprises generally, a record reader mechanism which responds to theperforations of a control tape or to corresponding electrical impulses,and a selector mechanism which is operated by the settings of theaforesaid record reader. In accordance with each selection received froma control signal, a corresponding one of a plurality of selectableelements is moved into a selective or conditioning position, after whichtimed actuating mechanism deriving its power from the principal machine,functions to move the selected one of the elements, causing the latterto complete the particular function for which it was selected. Of theplurality of elements, certain ones are adapted to release correspondingmatrices from the storage magazine of the principal machine, and certainother ones are adapted to execute special functions incident to linecomposition and casting operationsv such as, for example, the movementof the shiftable rail.

In accordance with a preferred practice of the present invention, a pairof selectable elements is provided, each of which may be conditioned inresponse to an individual signal delegated to it.

Upon the subsequent movement of the selectable element, it is made torelease an associated clutch trip controlled by a pair of bellcranks,thereby permitting the engagement of 'a driving communication to adriven apparatus which is ren-g deredeffective at a reduced frequencyofperform ance so as to effect a delay, while also momentarily suspendingthe further performance of line composition so that no additionalmatricesmay bereleased until the assembling block and rail are inposition to properly receive them The releaseof each bell crank permitsthe engagement of the clutch mechanism for a half revolution, where itcomes under the control of the other of. said bell cranks which againcauses the disengagement of the clutch. The driven mechanism'comprises ashaft which carriesv a cam, and as the shaft may be arrested in twopositions, so the cam maybe stopped with either its apex or high portionin engagement with its follower roller or its nadir or low portion inengagement therewith. The follower roller is carried by a bell crankwhich, in turn, engages a depending shifting arm whichis directlyarticulated to the shiftable rail in theassemblingblock. When theelevator with which the assembling block is, integrally formed is in itsdown or composing position, the depending lever is in cooperative.relation with the bell crank last; mentioned, and in accordance with theposition.

of said bell crank, causes the rail to assume one or the other of itstwo shiftable positions.

A better understanding of the present invention will be obtained fromthe following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a general perspective View of 1a standardline-casting andcomposing machine having an automatic, control unit applied thereto, ofwhich certain. parts are broken away to revealthe ob-- soured parts ofthe selector mechanism; I

Fig. 2 is a detailed front elevation illustrating the assembling blockshiftable rail and a portion of the rail shift mechanism associatedtherewith;

Fig. 3 is a'perspective view of the assembling block showing a pluralityof matrices assembled both in the bold and roman positions;

Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view with parts broken away, takenapproximately on line 44 of Fig. 2, showing the delay mechanismassociated with the rail shift mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view taken approxi mately on line 55 ofFig. 2, illustrating the contour of the rail shift operatingcam, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detailed elevation of a modified shiftable railthat may be electrically controlled directly from a pair of selectableelements.

In the following explanation, more particular description will be givenof the mechanism which forms the subject matter ofthe present invention,reference being had to the parent application for a completeunderstanding of the general operations of linecasting and composingmachines as well as to the automatic control unit.

Considering more particularly the accompanying drawings in which likereference characters designate similar parts throughouuattention isdirected to Figs. 1 and 2, wherein is illustrated, generally, theelevator casting II, having integrally formed therewith the assemblingblock I 2. As better illustrated in Fig. 3, the assembling blockcomprises a pair of side walls I3 and I4, each having integrally formeda lower supporting rail I5, upon which may rest the bottom lugs I6 ofthe matrices I'I when the latter are received in the lower or romanposition. As viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, the right-hand portion of theassembling block I2 is the end at which selected matrices are received,and will be designated hereinafter as the ingress portion. A shiftablerail I8, which may be formed of sheet metal as indicated, affords a railsection which protrudes through the wall I4 of block I2 and presents itsinnermost edge I9 parallelly with respect to and slightly above thelower rail I5 of wall I4.

As illustrated, rail I8 is somewhat shorter than the wall I4, and isprovided with a depending lug 2I to which is secured a spring 22, havingits other end fastened to the assembling block and tending normally tomaintain rail I8 in its lefthand position so as to afford a clearance 23at its ingress portion. The opposite end of rail I8 is provided with anextensive depending wall 24 to which is attached one end of a lever 25,pivoted at 26 to the elevator I I, and which is provided at its otherend with a transversely extending portion 21, beveled as at 28.

As described in the parent application, the automatic control unit isprovided with a principal operating shaft 29 which, although not shownin the accompanying drawings, consists of two parts, the first of whichis continuously rotatable, and the second of which is driven from thefirst through a clutch controlled by the clutch controlling mechanismindicated generally by 3I in Fig. 4, which is controlled by a startmagnet 32, located in a control circuit 33, in which are also locatedseveral circuit breakers I0, 20 and 34, each of which relates to anassociated mechanism which may, under certain conditions, open thecontrol circuit 33 for thereby arresting the continued rotation of thedriven portion of shaft 29. Among these several circuit breakers, theone indicated 34 particularly concerns the present invention, andcomprises a pair of contact springs inclined to remain apart, butpressed into contactual relationship with each other by either of a pairof insulated apices 35, carried upon a cam 36, which is secured to androtatable with the driven portion of a shaft 3'l, generally referred tohereinafter as the rail shift operating shaft.

The operating shaft 29 receives its power preferably from a constantlyrotating source associated with the principal machine through suitablebelt and pulley means 381, indicated in the background of Fig. 4. Apinion 39, keyed to the continuously rotatable portion of shaft 29 isadapted to drive an associate gear 4! carried by an intermediate shaft42, while the latter, by means of a similar pinion 43, likewise impartsa corresponding motion to an associate gear 44, se= cured to the drivingportion of shaft 31. The several gears just described will be understoodto constitute a reduction gear train for imparting a delayed or retardedmovement to driven shaft 31 as compared with the movement received bythe driving shaft 29 from the principal machine.

Among the several elements 40, which are individually selectable by thecode bars 50 as described in the parent application, are a pairindicated by the numerals 45 and 46 which are generally located above atooth clutch 41, which connects the driving and driven portions of shaft31. Element 45 carries a spring pressed pawl 48, Fig. 4, whichcooperates with one arm of bell crank 43, pivoted at 5i, the other armof which is provided with a beveled orifice 52, which registers aboveand in radial alignment with the driven portion 53 of clutch 41. Theother element 45 carries a similar pawl 54 which cooperates with bellcrank lever 55, pivoted at 55, and likewise provided in itscorresponding arm with an orifice 52, having a beveled side wall similarto and radially opposite the first described orifice of bell crank lever49. During the normal condition of elements 45 and 45, their respectivepawls 48 and 54 engage the associated arms of their bell crank levers,as illustrated in Fig. 4, but permit the latter to remain in theireffective position; that is, having their clutch engaging arms adjacentto and capable of encountering a lug 51 also suitably beveled andintegrally formed with the driven portion 53 of clutch 41. This slug,upon being engaged by the beveled surface of the arms of one or theother of bell cranks 49 and 55, is adapted to be retracted therebycausing the driven portion 53 of clutch 41, as viewed in Fig. 2, to beshifted leftwardly. so that its teeth 58 will come out of engagementwith the teeth 59 of driving portion 3 I. It should also be understoodthat driven portion 53 isppnventionally keyed to the hub of cam 52 wasto permit longitudinal movement to the former for the purpose ofaffording clearance to allow for the aforedescribed clutch disengagementand reengagement operations.

A spring 63, confined between cam 36 and'a shoulder portion of drivenmember 53, tends to; urge the latter into engagement with its driving:portion GI, but this engagement is prevented bythe frictional torquewhich maintains the lug 51 in the foremost portion of the inclinedsurface of orifice 52 of either arm 49 or 55.

During the engagement of lug 51 with either bell crank arm 49 or 55, oneor the other of apices 35 will engage the contacts 34 so as to maintainthe control circuit 33 closed so far as this particular circuit breakeris concerned, but during the interval when lug 57 is proceeding from oneposition to the other, the apices 35 will be withdrawn from saidcontacts, permitting the latter to remain apart and thereby open thecontrol circuit 33 and arrest the further rotation of the driven portionof shaft 29, which controls the record reader mechanism 30, as describedin the parent application. Thus it will be understood that during therail shift operation under control of operating shaft 31, which, aspreviously described, has its rotatioin delayed or retarded with respectto the rotation of shaft 29, the performance of the record reader willbe arrested pending the completion of the rail shift operation, therebypreventing the release of any matrices during the interim, but thatnormal composition is restored upon the completion of the rail shiftmovement in either direction. The driven portion 53 carries with it cam62, the contour of which will be more clearly understood from Fig. 5.This cam, when in position to effect roman line composition, has itsapex 84 pointed downwardly, as illustrated in this figure, during whichtime roller 65 is supported by the dwell of the nadir portion, thuspermitting bell crank 66, with which roller 65 is associated, to assumeits clockwise extreme position, as is indicated in solid-lines in Fig.2. When in this position, its upstanding arm 61 clears the extremity 21of rail shift lever 25, permitting the latter to remain in itscounterclockwise extremity.

When, on the other hand, shaft 31 is arrested in its other position 180from the just described position, the apex 64 of cam 62 registers underthe roller 65, forcing the bell crank 66 into its counterclockwiseextremity when its arm 61 engages the extremity 21 of lever 25, movingthe latter into its clockwise extremity and shifting the rail l8rightwardly against the tendencies of spring 22. When rail [8 is in itsroman position, viz., leftward as illustrated in Fig. 2, the clearance23 is sufiicient to permit any matrix subsequently received into theassembling block to drop beyond the extremity of raillB onto the lowerrails l5 of assembling block I2, but when shiftable rail I8 is in itsbold position, viz., its extreme rightward position, its ingress end isinterposed to block the descent of any subsequently received matrices.As illustrated in Fig. 3, this rail thereafter continues to support suchmatrices which are then slid leftwardly by the oncoming matrices,augmented in part by a star wheel 68 which rotates at a low frequencyand is providedespecially for that purpose.

When, after a line of matrices has been assembled in the block I2, anelevator signal is received, the elevator II is raised from itscomposing'levels as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6 to an upper level knownas the casting level, whereat other mechanism operates to remove theassembled line and clear the block for the composition of another lineof matrices. During its upward movement, elevator l l carries with it,in addition to the assembling block which is integrally formedtherewith, the shiftable rail 18 and the lever 25 which is secured tothe elevator at its pivotal point 26. A hooked portion which is providedupon the ingress end of the rail l8 prevents the assembled matrices fromslipping off during the ascent of the elevator. When the extremity 21 oflever 25 passes beyond the control of the upstanding arm 61 of bellcrank 66, it again becomes subjected to the influence of spring 22which, when lever 25 has last been placed into the bold position, servesto urge it back into the roman position. Both lever 25 and rail l8 arethen maintained in the roman position during the transit of theelevator, and until it is returned to the assembling or composing levelat which time the inclined surface 28, mentioned above, comes intoengagement with the upper extremity of arm 61 when the latter, pursuantto the last shifting signal, remains in its bold position, asillustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The inclined surfaces ofextremity 25 and upstanding arm 61 thereby act torestore the lever -25and rail l8 to the same position as that of bell crank 66, where itremains until altered by a subsequent and opposite selection.

Modification In Fig. 6 is illustrated a modified form of shiftable railstructure as well as a modified operatis provided with a depending lug2| to which is connected a spring 22 that normally tends to maintain itin leftward or roman position. The

depending flange 69 of shiftable rail 18 in this case, however, isprovided with a sidewardly extending abutment H beveled rightwardly anddownwardly at 12 and adapted to cooperate with a. roller 13, carried bya second class lever 14,

pivoted at 15. A link 16 connects a center point of lever 14 with theextremity of an armature 11 which is associated with the operatingmagnet 18. The energizing circuit 19 of magnet 18 contains a pair ofcontacts 8! normally spring inclined to remain apart, but capable ofbeing brought into i contacting relation upon engagement by theextremity of a centrally pivoted lever 82, the opposite end of which isengaged by the wedge shaped surface of a spring detent 83. The influenceof detent 83 upon lever 82 tends to maintain it in either of its twoextreme positions, as indicated in solid and broken lines, while a pairof selectable bars 84 and 85, which may correspond to the selectablebars 45 and 4B of the preferred structure described above, serve to moveit into each of its positions. Each bar 84 or 85 is provided with anupstanding lug 86 which is high enough to engage its associated arm oflever 82, and upon being selected and moved forward in the directionindicated by arrow 81, bar 85 moves lever 82 into its counterclockwiseextremity, closing circuit 19 while bar 84 moves it into its clockwiseextremity, opening the circuit.

In order to effect the delayed operation of shiftable rail IS inresponse to the selection of either bar 84 or 85, magnet 18 may be ofthe conventional slow release and slow operating type,

sothat when the circuit 18 is established, as well as when it is brokenupon the selection of one or the other of the selectable bars, thearmature 11 will be delayed in its response for a short interval,comparable to the delay introduced into the preferred modificationdescribed above by the reduction gearing of Fig. 4.

The inclined surface 12 of the depending por-' In operation, the railshift mechanism of Figs. 1 to 5 performs as follows:

Shaft 29 operates the record reader mechanism and in addition alsoconstitutes the medium through which all of the operative motion isdistributed to the various moving parts of the automatic control unit.Its continued rotation is conditioned upon the closure of circuit 33 andthe energization of magnet 32, at which time only, the clutch mechanism3| is maintained in operative condition for connecting the driving anddriven portions of shaft 29, as explained in the parent application. t

During roman character composition, the rail shift mechanism is disposedas indicated in Fig.

2, viz.-, cam 62 having its nadir portion against bell crank roller 65and permitting the latter to assume its clockwise extremity and rail I8to ing apparatus. As in the preferred form, rail 18 remain in itsleft-hand position so as to afford the clearance 23. When under thiscondition matrices are received in the ingress portion of block l2, theyenter in vertical alignment with clearance 23, and, having no rail [8 toengage the lugs 45 thereof, the matrices descend to lower position andare supported by the inert rails l5 of side walls !3 and I4.

Each matrix H has two character impressions 88 and 89, Fig. 3, spacedapart a distance equal to the distance between rails 13 and I5, so thatwhen supported upon rails IS, the character 89 registers in horizontalalignment with the mold casting level while when resting on rail [5 thecharacter 88 registers at this level.

In order to receive the matrices in their upper or bold face positionwith the 89 characters in casting position, such as is illustrated bythe right-hand matrices in Fig. 3, the ingress portion of rail I8 ismoved to its right-hand extremity, filling in the space 23 andpresenting the foremost portion of edge i9 so as to support lugs l6 ofincoming matrices l'l. It follows that when a matrix is received uponeither level and is thereafter moved leftwardly by the reception ofsubsequent matrices in cooperation with the rotation of star wheel 68,that they continue to be maintained at the level at which they arereceived, sliding upon one or the other of rails 18 or IE.

When it is desired to receive matrices in the roman position, a bar 45is selected by its associated signal and in moving leftwardly, Fig. 4,pursuant to its selective operation, the pawl 54 thereof trips bellcrank 55, releasing the lug 51 of the driven portion 53 of clutch 47,and permitting the latter to engage the driving portion 6| thereof.Driven portion 53 then continues to rotate one-half revolution until itengages the slot 52 of bell crank 49, where it is again withdrawn.Meanwhile, however, it has consummated 180 of rotation and has therebypresented the apex 64 of cam 62 opposite roller 65 of bell crank 68,causing the latter to engage lever 25 and thrust it clockwise, therebymaintaining rail 18 in its right-hand position. Through gear train 39,4|, 43, and 44, shaft 31 is reduced in operating speed with respect todriving shaft 29 at an efficient ratio so that before a rail shiftoperation is fully consummated, the most remote or slowest descendingmatrix may have just enough time in Which to be received in its properpreexisting assembling block rail condition. During the operation of therail shift mechanism, the record reader is momentarily suspended fromoperation by reason of cam Wheel 36, upon starting to move with cam '52,presenting its apices 35 out of engagement with the contacts 34. Thisdeenergizes magnet 32 by opening the circuit 33, and permits clutchmechanism 3| to disengage the driven from the driving portions of aclutch which is located upon shaft 29. The parent application disclosesthe operation of shaft 29 and its clutch in greater detail. It should benoted that upon the selection of either bar 45 or 46, that rail i8 iscaused to be pressed in one or the other of its positions in a positiveand permanent manner, which position may thereafter prevailindefinitely.

If after rail it? has been selected into its bold position as lastdescribed and thereafter elevator II is raised to the linecasting level,lever 25 comes out of engagement with bell crank 66 during transit,permitting rail l8, under the influence of spring 22, to assume itsroman position,

but upon the return of elevator H, the inclined surface 28 comes intoengagement with the upstanding portion 61 of bell crank 66 and is cammedleftwardly and again assumes the bold position in conformity with theselected condition of the rail shift mechanism.

While this invention has been explained and described with reference tothe particular illustrations of the accompanying drawings, it will beunderstood that numerous modifications and variations may be madetherein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Itis therefore intended not to be limited to the details of theaccompanying drawings nor to the foregoing specification, but to definethe present invention in accordance with the hereinafter appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a linecasting and composing machine, a composing apparatus, in amatrix storage magazine including a plurality of matrices, means underthe control of said apparatus for releasing said matrices, an assemblingblock for receiving said released matrices in two alternative positions,a selector located at the ingress portion of said block for determininginto which of said positions subsequently received matrices may beadmitted, and an automatic control unit including means responsive tocertain signals for controlling said apparatus, and means under thecontrol of other signals for moving said selector including a pair ofcoacting levers between said unit and said selector having camengagement portions to assist in their realignment following a movementof said assembling block.

2. In a selector mechanism, a plurality of parallelly positionedselectable elements, means for individually selecting and actuating eachof said elements in accordance with a signal individual to it, and acircuit breaker pivotally supported between adjoining ones of saidelements and operative into its circuit closing condition upon selectionof one of said adjoining elements and to its circuit opening conditionupon the operation of the other of said adjoining elements.

3. The combination of a selector mechanism including a set of signalresponsive elements, apair of selectable bars each responsive to apeculiar setting of said elements, a switch operating lever pivotallysupported between said bars, means for moving each of said bars upontheir being selected, and means on said bars for engaging and movingsaid switch.

4. The combination of a selector mechanism including a pair ofselectable elements, a shaft comprising a driving portion and a drivenportion, a clutch connecting said portions, means for disengaging saidclutch in two radial positions, a clutch release lever under control ofone of said elements for disengaging said clutch in one of saidpositions, and a clutch release lever under control of the other of saidelements for disengaging said clutch in the other of said positions.

5. In combination, a pair of individually selectable bars, a clutchcomprising driving and driven portions, a signal responsive mechanismfor selecting each of said bars, means under the control of one of saidbars for controlling said clutch in one position, and means under thecontrol of the other of said bars for controlling said clutch in anotherposition. v

6. In a linecasting and composing machine, an assembler elevator forreceiving two-character matrices, a sensing mechanism responsive to codesignals for initiating the performanceof said composing machine, meansunder the control of said mechanism for determining the level at whichsaid matrices are assembled in said elevator including a shiftable rail,a lever for operating said rail, mechanical power means selecteddirectly from one of two conditions established in said sensingmechanism, and means for momentarily suspending the performance of saidsensing mechanism during the operation of said level determining means.

7. In a linecasting and composing machine, an assembler elevator forreceiving two-character matrices, a mechanism including a set of sensingelements for setting up mechanical selecting conditions responsive tocode signals for initiating the performance of said composing machine,means under the control of certain of said mechanical conditions fordetermining the level at which the matrices are to be assembled in saidelevator comprising a shiftable rail, means for moving said rail,mechanical power means selected directly under the control of either oftwo of said mechanical conditions established in said sensing mechanism,and means for momentarily delaying the performance of said sensingmechanism during the movement of said level determining means.

8. In a linecasting and composing machine, an elevator movable betweencomposing and casting levels, a matrix receiving block carried. by saidelevator, a preconditioning device in said block for determining eitherof two alternative positions in which subsequently received matrices maybe positioned, and a slow release and slow operating electromagnet formoving said preconditioning means for thereby deferring the response ofsaid preconditioning means.

9. In a linecasting and composing machine, a shiftable assembler railfor determining the reception of subsequently released matrices, a pairof selectable bars, a train of mechanical elements for shifting saidrail in accordance with the selective operation of one or the other ofsaid bars, a set of code elements variously presentable for placing intoselective condition either of said bars individually, a tape sensingmechanism for controlling the placement of said code elements, and meansfor disabling said tape sensing mechanism for a predetermined timeinterval following the selection of either of said bars and until theconsummate performance of said rail.

10. In a linecasting and composing machine, an assembling block movablevertically for transporting assembled matrices to a delivery slidelevel, a shiftable receiving rail in said block for assuming alternativepositions to accordingly de- CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,062,552. December 1, 1936.

LOUIS M. POTTS.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2,second column, line 33, for the word "slug" read lug; line 68, for"rotatioin" read rotation; page 5, second column, line 28, claim 10',for "severable" read separable; and that the said Letters Patent shouldbe-read with these correotions therein that the same may conform to therecord of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 9th day of March, A. D. 1937.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

DI SO L.Al M E R 2,062,332.Louis M. Potts, Evanston, Ill. LINE CASTINGAND COMPOSING MA- CHINE. Patent dated December 1, 1936. Disclaimer filedJanuary 25, 1939, by the assignee, Teletypesetter Corporation. Herebyenters this disclaimer to claim 4 of saidvLetbers Patent.

[Ofiioial Gazette February 14, 1939.]

